Title: Identify the purpose of the career clusters, pathways, and occupations.
Course: Education for Employment - Exploratory (Preparation) (22900-12) > Section: Researching Career Opportunities

Identification should include

- career cluster—a grouping of occupations and broad industries based on a core of common knowledge and skills
- pathway—a broad subdivision of a career cluster leading to a number of related occupations
- occupation—one of several specific job titles representing various levels of employment within a particular pathway

Note: Virginia’s CTE courses have been placed within a structure of 17 career clusters recognized by the Virginia Department of Education. Each cluster is subdivided into various pathways and occupations.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What are the advantages of using career clusters to explore careers?
- How do career clusters, pathways, and occupations relate to one another?
- Why is it important to consider various pathways and occupations within a career cluster of interest?